There’s no denying: moving can be stressful. With these moving hacks, though, it doesn’t have to be as hard. In order to help you with your move, whether this is your first move or tenth, I’ve put together some moving hacks that make everything feel a little easier.
I divided these up into steps you should take before moving, on your moving day, and right after you’ve moved in.
This post provides the moving hacks I wish I’d known before my first move. Get ready for a much easier move with these tips in hand.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.
Using Moving Hacks For Seamless Relocation
How to prepare before your move
The first steps that go into move come long before your actual move day. Here are some things you cans tart doing as soon as you start thinking about moving.
Collect boxes for the move
Start collecting boxes. Those big Amazon boxes you usually toss? You’re going to want them soon!
You can also start looking for boxes at stores like Sam’s Club, Dollar Stores, and even pet stores. Just ask an employee if they have any boxes. Chances are you’ll find some.
You can also keep an eye out on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Look for someone who just moved and has plenty of extra boxes. Start looking early, but know that worst case you can always buy moving boxes from a hardware store or moving store.
Purging the unnecessary
As soon as you decide that you’ll be moving, it’s time to start getting rid of things that don’t need to make the move. I absolutely love moving as an excuse to purge unwanted things.
It’s so freeing to leave behind half my closet and start fresh in a new places with only the items I truly love.
Start early on this, though, because there are some things that thrift shops won’t accept, like couches and mattresses, and it may take you some time to get rid of them.
By starting early, you also give yourself the luxury of being able to sell items on Facebook, Craigslist, Ebay, Poshmark, and Offer Up. Depending on where you live now, you may also be able to do a garage sale to get rid of some stuff.
Enlist moving help
Moving itself is not fun, so get help! One of the best moving hacks is to accept that moving is rough and it’s okay to ask your friends and family for help.
Do you know anyone with a truck or large van? Ask if you can borrow it for the day of the move in order to avoid renting a U-Haul. Also ask around for muscle–that heavy furniture won’t move itself!
By planning this early you’ll increase your chances of actually getting enough help to make the day go smoothly.
Plan your moving day time-line
Another good step to take before your move is to plan the moving day itself. Once you’ve narrowed down when you can pick up the new keys, figured out what kind of a window you have.
Do you need to be moved in one day?
Do you have two weeks to make the change?
It can be easier to take your time with a move, but it also requires planning. You’ll have to decide when you want to sleep at the new place and make sure you have essentials in the right house or apartment so you don’t end up with no clean clothes or toothpaste.
So, figure out when you’ll move what and coordinate with your team of helpers.
Set up your Change of Address with USPS
Finally, as soon as you know your move day, set up your mail forwarding with USPS. Thankfully, this system is super easy and works really well. While you still want to try and change your address on everything, having mail forwarding gives you a window for that transition without losing mail.
I also like to order something relatively unimportant right as I’m moving, just to make sure that the new address is correct and my package makes it. This will also help you figure out how mail gets delivered at your new place; whether to a mail room, the front door, or a front office.
Moving hacks for the big day
Alright. You’ve done some planning, you’ve signed your lease, you’ve picked up the key. It’s time for the big day. Here are some moving hacks for the day of.
Label boxes on the top and side
First off: label your boxes. This feels like a no brainer but I’ve made the mistake of thinking it doesn’t make a big difference. It does!
In addition, label your boxes on the top and on the side, so you can see what’s in each box even when they’re stacked in the middle of the room.
Use a color-coding system
There are a few ways to label your boxes. One is to just write the items inside, another is to write the room where they belong.
Either way, find a way to color-code the rooms. For example, you could use different colored sharpies to mark which room each box belongs to. This way, as you’re moving, you can bring the box directly to that room and make unpacking much easier.
List out specific items with a sharpie
If your box is straightforward, like a box of clothes, then you don’t need to label it in detail. However, when it comes to the last bit of packing and you’re just throwing objects into any open box, label those boxes!
Especially keep track of things you might need right away in the new place, like trash bags, toilet paper, a speaker, phone chargers. As soon as you put these important but hard-to-place items in a box, write that down on the outside of the box so you can find them again.
Pack a bag of essentials
No matter how organized you think you are or how quickly you plan on doing the move, things are going to get a little bit chaotic when you move.
One way to counter that is to pack a bag of essentials. Pack one suitcase or duffel bag as if you are going on a one-week vacation. Although, add in a roll of toilet paper and a towel.
Now, whether you are sleeping at the old place or the new place, you should be able to ignore the packing mess and just live out of the essentials in that bag. Trust me, this is a sanity-saver!
Tape individual containers to keep them from spilling
Some containers are pretty self-contained already and don’t need to be put in another box. You can tape these or wrap them with stretch wrap and move them as-is.
Or, if you have small containers that you’re going to move into a move, such as jewelry boxes or makeup storage, make sure to tape or wrap them before you put them in a box.
Use vacuum bags for blankets and pillows
For large, bulky items that don’t weigh much, vacuum sealed bags can be a lifesaver. They make things like blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals much easier to transport.
You can also use them for clothes, though I have a few other clothing-specific moving hacks further down.
Buy packaging tape (and a dispenser!)
One of the most important hacks is to buy good tape and splurge for the dispenser. Having a proper tape dispenser will save you a lot of headache as you will be using it a LOT.
Although it can feel wasteful to use a ton of tape, it’s worth it to keep your belongings secured. It’s better to over-tape a box than have all the contents spill out when you’re carrying it.
Keep clothes on their hangers
When you go through your closet, fold and pack clothes with their hangers still attached. For my first move, I had never heard of this hack. I spent hours removing hangers and carefully folding dress shirts and sweaters. Not only did I waste time, but i had a ton of unwieldy hangers to deal with too!
For my second move I got smarter and started folding clothes around their hanger. It took an extra box or two, but was so much faster for both packing and unpacking.
I will say that I broke a couple of hangers from the rush, but they’re so cheap that it wasn’t really a problem and, ultimately, this hack is so worth it.
Leave clothes folded in dresser drawers
Another way to save time on clothes packing is to leave clothes in the dresser drawers. You have to remove the drawers anyway to move the dresser, so why not leave the clothes inside?
Secure everything with stretch wrap and voila, you’re done! This saves a lot of time and boxes.
Pack heavy items into a suitcase
Heavy items are often a problem in a move. (Anyone else love books?)
One way to avoid creating monster boxes that no one can lift is to put heavy items in a suitcase with wheels or in very small boxes. Keep track of the weight as you pack, and move to a smaller box if you need to.
Put tape in an “X” shape across your mirrors
If you’re moving with mirrors, tape from one corner to the other will help secure the broken pieces if worst case scenario happens and it breaks.
There is a great post about moving big mirrors to check out if you want some ideas on extra precautions you can take.
Use binder clips to cover razors
This moving hack is also quite simple, but effective. If you are tying to pack razors or other small, sharp objects, you can use a binder clip to cover the sharp edge.
This is great for moving, but it’s also a fantastic tip for any kind of travel or even just for safely storing razors in a bag or drawer.
Tape your necklaces to keep them untangled
Necklaces are always my bane when it comes to moving, since they Always. Get. So. Tangled.
I found that the best way to keep them separate is paper and tape. I’ll lay out several necklaces and wrap them with paper, then tape over the paper to secure them. I usually do about three pieces of paper to make sure they’re well secured.
Another necklace trick is to buy small plastic bags, the kind used for party favors or snacks, and put each necklace in its own little bag for the move.
Use towels to wrap delicate items
Instead of spending money on rolls of wrapping paper or paper towels, you can use kitchen towels and wash clothes to wrap breakable dishes.
For other fragile items around the house, you can wrap them in towels and hand towels. These fabrics need to get packed anyway, so why not let them do double-duty?
Separate fragile items and boxes
If you have any sentimental or very fragile items, keep them separate from the rest of the packing. Instead, bring them in your personal car to make sure that you are the one moving them as carefully as need be.
This is especially true of items like china, sentimental decor, desktop computer parts, or odd-shaped, heavy items like a sewing machine, printer, or TV.
Store small items inside pots and pans
When you’re packing the kitchen, you’ll likely end up with a lot of small objects. You can make use of the room you have by placing these items inside of pots and pans.
Otherwise, the space inside pots is wasted, and you’ll end up using more boxes.
Coffee filters can protect plates and bowls
If you are trying to find a way to store plates and bowls more safely, you can place coffee filters between each one. This is a great way to prevent chips from moving and to keep the bowls from clinking together.
Next steps: what to do after you move
You did it! You got everything moved into your new apartment or house. Unfortunately, you’re not quite done. Here are some moving hacks for after the move.
Unpack the essentials first
Be smart about unpacking. I’m guilty of wanting to just start ripping open boxes and putting things away, but this doesn’t actually work well.
Instead, start by arranging furniture so that you have a better idea of what the space will look like once it’s all set up.
Then, unpack the essentials. Start by unpacking the kitchen and bathroom. These are rooms you’re going to spend a lot of time in, and you don’t want to be digging through boxes to find your shampoo on the first night at the new place.
Put up some decorations
This is one of my favorite post-move tips. Put up some decorations! It can be so tempting to leave decorations till the end. After all, a picture on the wall is not nearly as necessary as having all your utensils in the right drawers.
Read More: 37 Genius Small Apartment Decorating Ideas on a Budget
However, putting up some wall makes a huge difference in terms of making the apartment feel like yours. Own your space! Personalizing at least the living room will help you start to settle in and fall in love with your new place.
Thank your movers
Whether you hired a moving service or enlisted the help of friends and family, make sure to show them some appreciation. Leave a review for your moving company (and tip them on the day of the move).
If you had friends and family help, thank you notes can go a long way toward making them feel appreciated and ensuring that you can still enlist their help if you move again in the future.
Consider another purge
I often find that as I’m unpacking I find more things that I wish I had left behind. You’ll open a box and have the thought “why did I keep this?” Instead of ignoring the thought, start a new donation pile for the unnecessary objects you missed the first time around.
It does feel really weird to donate stuff after a move, but it will save you trouble in the long-run, and moving is just such a good time to take stock of what’s actually important to you.
Write down any moving hacks you wish you’d known
Chances are, while you’re moving you’ll think of other things you should have done or wish you’d done differently.
Write them down!
If this is your first move, chances are it won’t be your last. Learn from yourself and keep track of your own personal moving hacks and strategies. Make note of what worked and what didn’t so you can have an easier move next time.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of moving hacks out there, but hopefully these have gotten you started on organizing for your move. By taking the time to plan ahead and follow through, your move can be seamless.
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